Staten Island St. Patrick's Day Parade still won't let LGBTQ group march

By David Matthews

Feb 24, 2019 | 5:15 PM

A man holds up a Gay Pride flag at the annual St. Patrick's Day parade in March 17, 2016, in New York City, soon after after exclusions of openly gay groups in the Manhattan parade had been dropped. (Spencer Platt / Getty Images)

Staten Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade organizers denied an application to march from a LGBTQ group on Sunday.

The parade is scheduled for Sunday, March 3.

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The Pride Center of Staten Island, the borough’s largest LGBTQ advocacy group, said it was the second time their application to participate in the parade was denied. A member attempted to apply in person so the group could march with their banner.

"We understand this parade is really important to Staten Island and all of the Irish who live here,” Carol Bullock told NY1. “We just want to be a part of that and celebrate."

According to Bullock, Ancient Order of Hibernians President Larry Cummings, the parade’s head organizer, told her the banner "promoted the homosexual lifestyle," and "goes against the tenets of the Catholic Church."

Bullock said Cummings also told her that identity politics had nothing to do with a celebration of Irish heritage.

Borough President James Oddo tweeted last week that "...time has long passed that we include the Pride center SI. What a unifying moment it would be for our borough to reach an accord and have all of SI enjoying this happy day."

He called for the community to raise their concerns with parade organizers in solidarity with Pride Center SI on Friday.

Governor Andrew Cuomo chimed in on Friday as well, saying “New York is the State of love. I stand with the Pride Center of Staten Island. @pridecenterSI should be permitted to march in the Staten Island St Patrick’s Parade. (It’s way past time).”

If parade organizers maintain their hardline stance, the Staten Island version would be the only St. Patrick’s Day parade to not include LGBTQ groups.

"There are many people on Staten Island who believe as I do, that support that the pride center is able to march and march with a banner,” Assemblyman Michael Cusicktold NY1. “Again, it goes back to what you believe the parade is about. Whether it involves religious tenets in the parade or if it is truly a parade, a civic parade of culture and heritage."

Requests for comment from multiple members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians were not returned.